Therapeutic Drug Levels
Updated: Apr 18, 2019
Author: Abimbola Farinde, PharmD, PhD;
Table 1. Therapeutic Drug Levels [1, 2, 3, 4] (Open Table in a new window)
Drug |
Therapeutic Range |
Acetaminophen |
10-25 μg/mL |
Amikacin |
Nonbacteremic gram-negative infection (urinary tract infection, synergism with beta-lactams): 15-30 μg/mL Serious gram-negative infection (bacteremia, pneumonia, sepsis): 25-40 μg/mL |
Amitriptyline |
120-150 ng/mL |
Carbamazepine |
4-12 μg/mL |
Chloramphenicol |
Meningitis: 15-25 μg/mL Other infections: 10-20 μg/mL |
Desipramine |
100-300 ng/mL |
Digoxin |
0.8-2 ng/mL |
Disopyramide |
2-4 μg/mL |
Ethosuximide |
40-100 μg/mL |
Flecainide |
Adults: 0.2-1 μg/mL Children: 0.2-0.8 μg/mL |
Gentamicin |
5-10 μg/mL |
Imipramine |
150-250 ng/mL |
Kanamycin |
15-30 μg/mL |
Lidocaine |
1.5-5 μg/mL |
Lithium |
Relapse prevention for bipolar disorder: 0.6-1 mEq/L Acute mania: 0.8-1.2 mEq/L Elderly patients: 0.4-0.8 mEq/L |
Methotrexate |
High-dose regimens result in 0.1-1 μmol/L 24-72 h postinfusion Toxic levels: >0.2 μmol/L (low-dose); >1 μmol/L (high-dose) |
Nortriptyline |
50-150 ng/mL |
Phenobarbital |
Adults: 10-40 μg/mL Infants/children: 15-30 μg/mL |
Phenytoin |
Total phenytoin levels: 10-20 μg/mL |
Primidone |
5-12 μg/mL |
Procainamide |
Procainamide: 4-8 μg/mL N-acetylprocainamide: 4-8 μg/mL |
Quinidine |
2-5 μg/mL |
Salicylate |
Antiplatelet/analgesia/antipyretic: ~100 μg/mL Mild toxic effects observed with anti-inflammatory dose levels of 150-300 μg/mL |
Sirolimus |
5-15 μg/L (whole blood) |
Tacrolimus |
5-20 μg/L (whole blood) |
Theophylline |
Adults: 5-15 μg/mL Children: 5-10 μg/mL Neonatal apnea: 6-11 μg/mL |
Tobramycin |
Life-threatening infection: 8-10 μg/mL Serious infection: 6-8 μg/mL Urinary tract infection: 4-6 μg/mL Synergy for infections caused by gram-positive organisms: 3-5 μg/mL |
Valproic acid |
Epilepsy (total): 50-100 μg/mL Mania (total): 50-125 μg/mL Free: 6-22 μg/mL |
Cyclosporine |
50-125 microgram/L (serum or plasma) 150-400microgram/L (whole blood) |